The VFTCB is partnering in The Contest with the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, to whom it gratefully acknowledges the support provided for prizes.

Eligibility. “Those Who Served,” the Essay Contest of the 2017 Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run® (The Contest) is open to all students of Montgomery County, Pa., currently enrolled the fourth, fifth and sixth grade levels. There is no age provision, given adherence to the restriction to fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

This includes public and private schools, as well as students who are homeschooled.

Residents of Montgomery County, Pa., who attend school out of county are also eligible.

Employees of the VFTCB and other companies associated with the promotion of The Contest and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising/promotion agencies – as well as their immediate families (spouse, siblings, and children) and household members of such employees are not eligible. The Contest is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Agreement to Official Rules. Participation in The Contest constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these official rules and the decisions of the host and sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon compliance with these official rules and fulfilling all other requirements herein.

Contest Period. The Contest begins March 01, 2017, at midnight and ends March 31, 2017, at midnight (The “Contest Period”). Entries that are submitted before or after the Contest Period will be disqualified. Online submissions will be accepted for the duration of The Contest.

How to Enter. Online entries will be available through valleyforge.org, where these official rules reside. Entrants must supply all necessary information and use the online form presented. Entries will not be accepted via any other method, including text, traditional mail or other paper-based presentation.

Entries must constitute original work.

Essays must be no more than one hundred (100) words in length.

Judging. The judging panel will comprise the VFTCB, Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Valley Forge Alliance and the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge (as prize sponsor). Representatives from these entities will evaluate all entries. Three awards – one to an eligible fourth-grade entrant, one to an eligible fifth grade entrant and one to an eligible sixth grade entrant – will be given.

Judging criteria includes the following elements:

Adherence to the Official Rules

Creativity

Quality of writing (including grammar and spelling)

Historical accuracy

Judging will take place the week of April 3-7, 2017.

Winners. Three awards – one to an eligible fourth-grade entrant, one to an eligible fifth grade entrant and one to an eligible sixth grade entrant – will be given.

Notification of Winners. All winners will be notified by email during the week of April 10-14. No inquiries by entrants about the status of their submission will be accepted.

Accessing a List of Winners. A full list of winners can be obtained after the close of The Contest on the VFTCB website (valleyforge.org) or by writing to the VFTCB at 1000 First Avenue, Suite 101, King of Prussia, PA 19406. No phone inquiries will be accepted.

Awarding of Prizes. Prizes consist of a $100 U.S. Savings Bond and a medal themed to the 2017 Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run®. The three winners will be given prizes during the April 23, 2017, awards ceremony following the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run®, onsite at Valley Forge National Historical Park (at approximately 9 a.m.; detailed timeline to follow). Transportation details are the responsibility of the winner and his/her family.

General Conditions. In the event that the operation, security or administration of The Contest is impaired in any way for any reason, including fraud, virus, bug, worm, unauthorized human intervention or other technical problem, or in the event The Contest is unable to run as planned for any other reason, as determined by the VFTCB in its sole discretion, the VFTCB may a) suspend The Contest to address the impairment and resume The Contest in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or b) terminate The Contest and, in the event of termination, award prizes from among the eligible, nonsuspect entries received up to the time of impairment. The VFTCB reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of The Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of The Contest may be in violation of criminal or civil law and, should such attempt be made, the VFTCB reserves the right to seek damages (including attorney’s fees) and any other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure of the VFTCB to enforce any provision of the Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Release and Limitations of Liability. By participating in The Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the VFTCB, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with The Contest and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in The Contest or receipt or use of the prize (including travel or activity related thereto), including a) technical errors associated with The Contest, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures, or difficulties; b) unauthorized human intervention in The Contest; c) mechanical, network, electronic, human or typographical errors; d) application downloads; e) any other errors or problems associated with The Contest, including, without limitation, errors that may occur during the administration of The Contest, the announcements of the winners, the cancellation or postponement of the award ceremony and/or the accessibility of any Contest-related materials; f) injury, death, losses, or damages of any kind, to persons or property that may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrants’ participation in The Contest or acceptance, receipt or misuse of prizes (including any travel or activity related there to). Entrants further agree that any cause of action, the Released Parties liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in The Contest, and in no event shall the entrants be entitled to receive attorney’s fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in The Contest. Entrants waive the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including punitive, consequential, direct or indirect damages.

Disputes. Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, The Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants’ rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of The VFTCB in connection with The Contest shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without giving effect to any choice law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of laws in any jurisdiction other than Pennsylvania.

Privacy. Entrants agree that their entries, names and any photography associated with The Contest are the sole possession of The VFTCB and therefore can be used for promotional and marketing purposes. Contact information such as mailing address, email address and phone number(s) will remain confidential.